Live Like a Royal: Vacations
Quarantine has me dreaming of days when we can travel again and I have been feeling very inspired by royal vacation spots. The British Royal Family, especially as The Queen gets older, do spend much of their vacation time in the U.K., whether it’s summers at Balmoral or Christmas at Sandringham. However, they have a history of traveling around the world, especially for tropical and ski vacations. For security reasons, royals tend to travel to the most exclusive destinations, where photographers are scarce and privacy is guaranteed.
Mustique, Caribbean
The Duke of Edinburgh, The Queen, Princess Margaret
Royal Visitors: Princess Margaret, The Queen, Prince Phillip, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Royal History: Princess Margaret was gifted land on the island in 1968 and built a home that she regularly visited for 30 years, and that other family members would come to stay at. Since then, William and Kate have taken their own tropical vacations there, bringing all three of their children to the secluded spot.
Celebrity Credentials: Mick Jagger, David Bowie, Cara Delevigne, Tom Ford, Bryan Adams, Rupert Everett
St. Barths, Caribbean
James Matthews and Pippa Middleton
Royal Visitors: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the extended Middleton clan
Royal History: Pippa Middleton’s in-laws the Matthews own (and live at) the super ritzy Eden Rock Hotel, and the whole family (Pippa, husband James, son Arthur, Parents Michael and Carol, brother James and fiance Alizee Thevenet) regularly vacation there after Christmas each year. It’s one of the few times a year that you see the entire family photographed together in a more casual setting (because what is more casual than bathing suits?). Also, the Middleton clan is clearly VERY committed to their workout routines - that is one toned and athletic family!
Where they stay: Eden Rock Hotel (in a private villa)
When they go: After Christmas for New Year’s
Celebrity Credentials: The Eden Rock has played host to Tom Hanks, Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Alba, along with legions of the super rich including assorted Rockefellers and Rothschilds.
Klosters, Switzerland
The Duke of Cambridge, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Sussex
Royal Visitors: Prince Charles, Princess Diana, Prince Harry, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Duke and Duchess of York
Royal History: Charles and Diana used to bring the boys to the remarkably low-key and unpretentious resort for skiing vacations, and after their divorce it became the location of an annual father/son trip. William and Kate have visited since, even having the first photo of them kissing taken on the slopes!
Where they stay: Walserhof hotel, where Prince Charles and the boys were once regulars.
Courchevel, France
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with Princess Charlotte and Prince George
Royal Visitors: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George, Princess Charlotte
Royal History: William and Kate took their first ski vacation as a family of four to this exclusive resort in the French Alps. This photos is one of my favorite family photos of the Cambridge’s was taken here - growing up, William and his family used to pose for a photo call so that they could have privacy from paparazzi during the rest of the trip, and this was a big departure as he and Kate went on the vacation secretly and took photos with just one photographer to share with the press.
Hot spot: Le Pilatus - the indoor/outdoor restaurant is a popular apres ski spot and the Cambridges were spotted there on their visit.
Celebrity Sightings: Brigitte Bardot put the resort on the map in the 1960s, and close Royal Family friends David and Victoria Beckham are regular visitors.
Verbier, Switzerland
The Duke and Duchess of York with Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice
Royal Visitors: Duke and Duchess of York, Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Duke of Cambridge, Duke of Sussex
Where they stay: Prince Andrew has owned a chalet there for years.
Fun Facts: Princess Eugenie met her now husband Jack Brooksbank while on vacation there and Prince Harry was rumored to be staking it out for his “stag do.”
Hot spot: Check out Farinet, the nightclub where Prince William was famously photographed “dad dancing” during a guys trip a few years ago, or La Vache, the popular mountainside restaurant owned by three British celebrities including singer James Blunt.
Royal Relations: Verbier is popular among other European royals, with Prince Frederick and Princess Mary of Denmark visiting with their four children, along with members of the Belgian Royal Family.